TOKYO, Oct 21 (Reuters) - The benchmark Nikkei average was down 0.3 percent, while the broader Topix dipped 0.4 percent on Wednesday.
The following stocks were on the move:
**TOSHIBA UP AFTER STRONG SANDISK RESULTS**
Toshiba Corp rose 3.1 percent to 541 yen after production partner SanDisk Corp's sales and profit beat market expectations, thanks to strong demand in the mobile phone market for flash memory.
Deutsche analyst Takeo Miyamoto, who has a 'buy' rating on the stock, also raised his target price to 650 yen from 500 yen and doubled his estimate for the chipmaker's annual operating profit to 127.6 billion yen.
0200 GMT
**MITSUI MINING JUMPS; HIKES 6-MTH ESTIMATE**
Mitsui Mining and Smelting jumped 5 percent to 254 yen after it lifted its net income estimate for for the first half ended Sept. 30 to a 1.5 billion yen ($16.6 million) profit from the previous projection for a 4.9 billion yen loss, partly due to metal prices rising higher than it had expected.
0200 GMT
**TOMY SOARS AFTER LIFTING 6-MTH PROFIT ESTIMATE**
Shares of Tomy Co Ltd surged 10.7 percent to 808 yen after it said it now expected to post a 4.8 billion yen net profit for the first half ended Sept. 30, beating its previous estimate by 78 percent on solid sales and restructuring.
Tomy expects to beat its first-half sales estimate by nearly 6 percent, citing strong demand for toys tied to the Transformers movies, its Beyblade spinning top toys and Nintendo Co game machines and software that it sells to retailers.
A Tomy spokeswoman also said restructuring of its group companies had also boosted its earnings. She said the number of subsidiaries suffering operating losses had decreased to 6, down from 19 in the first half last year.
0155 GMT
**JAL CONTINUES REBOUND AFTER REPORT OF CAPITAL BOOST**
Japan Airlines shares, which dropped to a record low of 100 yen on Friday, continued to rebound, rising 5.9 percent to 125 yen.
The Nikkei business daily reported on Wednesday that a government-appointed task force crafting a revival plan for JAL has sought $3.3 billion in fresh capital by tapping public and private funds.
0056 GMT
**SHIPPERS CLIMB AFTER BALTIC FREIGHT INDEX'S GAIN ON DEMAND**
Shipping firms advanced after the Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates to ship dry commodities, rose to over a two-month high on Tuesday helped by stronger demand for coal and iron ore cargoes.
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines rose 1.6 percent to 576 yen, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha jumped 3.8 percent to 385 yen and Nippon Yusen KK added 1.4 percent to 365 yen.
The sea transport subindex climbed 1.8 percent to become one of the top percentage gainers among subindexes.
0038 GMT
**IHI CLIMBS AFTER REPORT OF UPBEAT EARNINGS** IHI Corp jumped 3.4 percent to 181 yen after the Nikkei business daily said the heavy machinery maker is likely to report around 15 billion yen ($166 million) in operating profit for the April-September period.
That would top the company's previous projection by 3 billion yen, the Nikkei said, citing in part more high-margin projects.
IHI said in a statement the reported figures were not based on an announcement by the company and it is set to report results on Nov. 2.
0032 GMT
(Reporting by Tokyo newsroom)
((aiko.hayashi@thomsonreuters.com; Reuters Messaging: aiko.hayashi.reuters.com@reuters.net; +81 3 6441 1802))
((If you have a query or comment on this story send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com))
Keywords: MARKETS JAPAN STOCKS HOT (Multimedia versions of Reuters Top News are now available for: * 3000 Xtra : visit http://topnews.session.rservices.com * BridgeStation: view story .134 * Reuters Plus: from your WebDSS screen For more information on Top News, visit http://topnews.reuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
The following stocks were on the move:
**TOSHIBA UP AFTER STRONG SANDISK RESULTS**
Toshiba Corp rose 3.1 percent to 541 yen after production partner SanDisk Corp's sales and profit beat market expectations, thanks to strong demand in the mobile phone market for flash memory.
Deutsche analyst Takeo Miyamoto, who has a 'buy' rating on the stock, also raised his target price to 650 yen from 500 yen and doubled his estimate for the chipmaker's annual operating profit to 127.6 billion yen.
0200 GMT
**MITSUI MINING JUMPS; HIKES 6-MTH ESTIMATE**
Mitsui Mining and Smelting jumped 5 percent to 254 yen after it lifted its net income estimate for for the first half ended Sept. 30 to a 1.5 billion yen ($16.6 million) profit from the previous projection for a 4.9 billion yen loss, partly due to metal prices rising higher than it had expected.
0200 GMT
**TOMY SOARS AFTER LIFTING 6-MTH PROFIT ESTIMATE**
Shares of Tomy Co Ltd surged 10.7 percent to 808 yen after it said it now expected to post a 4.8 billion yen net profit for the first half ended Sept. 30, beating its previous estimate by 78 percent on solid sales and restructuring.
Tomy expects to beat its first-half sales estimate by nearly 6 percent, citing strong demand for toys tied to the Transformers movies, its Beyblade spinning top toys and Nintendo Co game machines and software that it sells to retailers.
A Tomy spokeswoman also said restructuring of its group companies had also boosted its earnings. She said the number of subsidiaries suffering operating losses had decreased to 6, down from 19 in the first half last year.
0155 GMT
**JAL CONTINUES REBOUND AFTER REPORT OF CAPITAL BOOST**
Japan Airlines shares, which dropped to a record low of 100 yen on Friday, continued to rebound, rising 5.9 percent to 125 yen.
The Nikkei business daily reported on Wednesday that a government-appointed task force crafting a revival plan for JAL has sought $3.3 billion in fresh capital by tapping public and private funds.
0056 GMT
**SHIPPERS CLIMB AFTER BALTIC FREIGHT INDEX'S GAIN ON DEMAND**
Shipping firms advanced after the Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates to ship dry commodities, rose to over a two-month high on Tuesday helped by stronger demand for coal and iron ore cargoes.
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines rose 1.6 percent to 576 yen, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha jumped 3.8 percent to 385 yen and Nippon Yusen KK added 1.4 percent to 365 yen.
The sea transport subindex climbed 1.8 percent to become one of the top percentage gainers among subindexes.
0038 GMT
**IHI CLIMBS AFTER REPORT OF UPBEAT EARNINGS** IHI Corp jumped 3.4 percent to 181 yen after the Nikkei business daily said the heavy machinery maker is likely to report around 15 billion yen ($166 million) in operating profit for the April-September period.
That would top the company's previous projection by 3 billion yen, the Nikkei said, citing in part more high-margin projects.
IHI said in a statement the reported figures were not based on an announcement by the company and it is set to report results on Nov. 2.
0032 GMT
(Reporting by Tokyo newsroom)
((aiko.hayashi@thomsonreuters.com; Reuters Messaging: aiko.hayashi.reuters.com@reuters.net; +81 3 6441 1802))
((If you have a query or comment on this story send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com))
Keywords: MARKETS JAPAN STOCKS HOT (Multimedia versions of Reuters Top News are now available for: * 3000 Xtra : visit http://topnews.session.rservices.com * BridgeStation: view story .134 * Reuters Plus: from your WebDSS screen For more information on Top News, visit http://topnews.reuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
